Chapter 11
Liam
“Dude, what the hell are you wearing?” Aidan’s eyes look like they’re about to pop out of his head.
“A tux. Don’t you like it?” I grin like the smartass I am.
I hold my arms up at my sides and spin around. My older brother punches me in the shoulder.
I stumble back, laughing. “What was that for?”
“For looking like a dumbass on purpose. Change out of that. Now.”
“Oh, come on. I think I look pretty sharp in this.” I catch my reflection in the nearby mirror of the menswear boutique we’re at. I look like an idiot.
We’re trying on suits for his wedding at a shop in Germantown. While Aidan was putting on his suit, I asked the shop assistant for the tackiest tuxedo they had. Yeah, it’s stupid, but I knew it would get a rise out of him. I can tell he’s stressed from work and wedding stuff and could use a laugh.
Aidan pushes up his glasses and pinches the bridge of his nose while closing his eyes. After a second, he looks up at me again. Despite the annoyed expression on his face, the corner of his mouth quirks up like he’s fighting a smile.
“You look like the guys from Dumb & Dumber,” he says.
I flash a thumbs-up at him. “That’s exactly what I was going for.”
He shakes his head and chuckles.
“I knew I could get you to crack a smile. All it took was me looking like a dumbass in this suit.”
He lets out a proper laugh.
“Admit it. No one makes you laugh like your little brother.”
He laughs even harder.
“Now admit that you want a Dumb & Dumber-themed wedding and that you’re going to wear an orange tux just like me.”
Aidan shakes his head, still laughing. “Over my dead body.”
I walk back toward my dressing room. “You don’t really think I’d show up to your wedding wearing an orange tuxedo, did you?”
“Anything is possible with you.” He pulls at the black tie of the suit he’s trying on. “You showed up naked to one of your house parties in college. I wouldn’t put it past you to do the same at my wedding.”
I stop right at the door of my dressing room. I hold up my right hand. “I swear, I won’t do that. I promise to wear clothes.”
“Good,” Aidan says. “Now quit screwing around and try on the suit I set aside for you.”
I walk into the dressing room and do what my big brother tells me. I grab the black trousers from the hanger in the dressing room and pull them on. “Fuck, these are stiff.”
“I don’t wanna hear it,” Aidan says from outside my door, his tone more relaxed. I assume he’s examining his wedding suit in the mirror.
I pull on the white dress shirt and button it up, then I slide on the suit coat. “I’m gonna need your help with the tie,” I say as I open the door and step out.
Aidan frowns at me. “You’re twenty-nine and you still don’t know how to tie a tie?”
I shrug. “I wear hockey gear for a living. How should I know how to tie a tie?”
He rolls his eyes, then steps up to me and starts tying my tie. “You have to wear a suit before every game you play. You should know by now.”
“I always get one of my teammates to tie it for me.”
“You’re a child.”
I laugh. “How did the tux fitting with Dad go yesterday?”
“It was good. He complained about the trousers being stiff too.”
I laugh again. I take in the relaxed look on my brother’s face as he fixes my tie.
I think back to all those times during their estrangement when I mentioned our dad, how Aidan’s demeanor would instantly change. His expression would turn hard. He’d shut down and refuse to talk about him.
So to see him act genuinely happy when talking about our dad now—to know that the two of them are spending time together one-on-one and genuinely enjoying it—is amazing to see after so many years of them being apart.
When Aidan finishes with my tie, he steps to my side.
“Hey, I know I’ve said this before, but I’m really happy you and Dad are on good terms now,” I say in a serious tone. “I know it was hard for you to look past the way he hurt you. I really admire you for that.”
Sincerity flashes in my big brother’s eyes. “Thanks for saying that.”
“I’m just glad that he’ll be there for you on your big day.”
Aidan smiles. “I am too.”
Together we stand in front of the mirror and look at our reflections.
“This looks good,” Aidan says, gently pulling on the lapels of his suit jacket.
I make eye contact with him in the mirror. “You look good. I look incredible.”
My older brother rolls his eyes at my teasing, but he’s smiling too.
“You sure you want me to wear this? Your fiancee might take one look at me and want to marry me instead,” I joke.
“Not a chance,” Micah says from behind us.
We spin around. She’s standing at the entrance of the dressing area, aiming a teasing smile at Aidan. He starts walking toward her.
“You forgot your cufflinks.” She hands him two shiny square cufflinks. When I get a better look at them, I notice they’re stacks of books. Cute.
His eyes light up as he smiles at her. “Thank you.” He drops a quick kiss to her mouth. “How do I look?”
Micah’s gaze turns starry as she stares at her future husband. She slides her hands up his chest. “Ridiculously handsome.”
“This isn’t bad luck, is it? You seeing me in my suit before the wedding?” Aidan asks.
Micah chuckles. “Not at all. It just makes me want to marry you even more now.”
Aidan drops his hands to her waist, pulling her close. “I’d marry you right now, beautiful.”
Micah’s tan skin flushes pink as she smiles. She gestures at the shorts and tank top she’s wearing. “I’m a mess.”
“You’re stunning. I’d marry you no matter what you wear.” Aidan doesn’t even blink when he says it.
She beams wide and cups his face in her hands.
There’s a pull in my chest as I watch Aidan and his fiancée share this sweet moment.
I’ve never seen my big brother like this before with anyone.
When he’s with Micah, he smiles more. He laughs harder.
He’s in a good mood more often. He looks at her with joy in his eyes.
That tugging feeling intensifies. I wonder what it would be like to feel that happy with another person.
I haven’t dated much in my life. I’ve hooked up plenty of times, which was a lot of fun, I won’t lie. But to have what they have—to be with a person who looks at you like you hang the moon, to want them more than you want anyone else in the world…that sounds incredible. I’d give anything for that.
Just then, Kendall pops in my head. Not only did I have the biggest crush on her in college, if I’m being honest with myself, I still like her.
I’ve always liked her. I’ve always been in awe of her.
In college, I wanted to date her, but she only seemed to ever date smart guys. And I’m definitely not smart.
That pull in my chest is replaced with a sinking feeling. I push it aside. Not sure why Kendall popped in my head just now. Maybe because we’ve been texting a lot about the sonnets she sent me to read.
Micah turns to me. “Liam, you look really sharp.”
I smile. “Thanks. Not as handsome as your fiancé though.”
“No one is as handsome as him,” Micah says while beaming at him. She reaches up and straightens out his tie.
“Do I have your approval for the wedding?” I ask.
She chuckles. “Absolutely.”
“How’d the fitting go for your dress this morning?” Aidan asks her.
She smiles. “Good. I can’t wait for you to see it.”
She and Aidan turn to me. “And, you! I still can’t believe you’re taking us to Cabo for the bachelor/bachelorette party,” Micah says.
I walk over and clap Aidan on the shoulder. “It’s the least I could do for being such an annoying little brother to this guy for the past twenty-nine years.”
“I can’t believe you and Kendall make such a great wedding planning team,” Aidan says. “I was certain she’d kill you.”
“She almost did at first after I messed up things with the engagement party.” I let out a weak laugh. “But we’re a lot better now. We’re actually getting along.”
Aidan and Micah both raise an eyebrow as they look at me.
“And how’d you manage that?” Aidan asks.
“Just trying to be less of a cocky jackass. Also, I order Chinese takeout whenever we meet up.”
Aidan chuckles. “That’s a good start. Kendall can get pretty hangry.”
The sales associate walks in and asks how we’re liking the suits. Aidan says they’re great, then asks him about tailoring his jacket. My phone buzzes in my pocket. When I see it’s Kendall texting me, I smile.
Kendall: What do you think about the sonnets I sent you? Are they inspiring your romantic side?
Me: Definitely.
Me: Sonnet 116 knocked me on my ass
Kendall: I don’t think anyone’s ever uttered those words when talking about Shakespeare’s sonnets lol
A spark of insecurity hits me. Was that stupid what I said?
Kendall: I love the way you describe it like that. It’s so honest. And cute.
I smile at my phone. The insecurity disappears instantly.
Me: I’m not the most eloquent guy, so I’m glad you’re taking that as a good thing
Kendall: Eloquence is overrated. Honesty is way, way better
Me: Well, I honestly loved that sonnet. Especially the lines, “Love alters not with his brief hours and weeks, But bears it out even to the edge of doom.”
Kendall: That’s my favorite part of the sonnet too!
Me: Really?
Kendall: Yes! It’s SUCH an epic way to describe the feeling of love, how soul-shaking it can feel.
Me: That’s exactly what I thought too. Like, love is this huge emotion that consumes you.
Kendall: Yes! Exactly! That’s what being in love should feel like!
Me: It feels like he’s saying if that’s not what love is, then no one has ever loved anyone. There’s just something really moving about that.
Kendall: Damn, Liam. That’s a spot-on interpretation. Nice!
I grin at my phone screen, excitement sparking in my chest. I’m talking about sonnets with Kendall, the brilliant and beautiful professor, and it’s actually going well. She doesn’t think I’m a dumbass. She agrees with what I’m saying and she’s complimenting me.
Kendall: Want me to send you some more of my favorite love poems to help kick up the inspiration for your speech? Shakespeare’s sonnets are great, but there are tons more written by other writers that are even more powerful.
Me: Yeah, I’d like that.
Kendall: Great! It’s really fun talking to you about this stuff
Me: I feel the same way. Thanks for talking fancy love words with a dumb jock like me.
She sends back a bunch of laughing emojis.
Kendall: Don’t say that about yourself. You’re not dumb.
Kendall: I’ve gotta run to class and teach, but I’ll send you more poems later.
“What are you smiling about?”
Aidan’s voice jerks me out of my text conversation with Kendall. I shove my phone back in my pocket.
“Nothing.”
I look up at him and Micah staring at me.
I clear my throat. “Just, uh, talking about the best man speech with Kendall. She’s helping me write it.”
Micah smiles. “That’s so nice.”
Aidan frowns at me. “You’d better not tell any embarrassing stories about me.”
I pat my brother’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. You’re gonna love what I’ve got planned.”